Australia shares dip as China outlook weighs

(Updates to provisional close)

MELBOURNE, March 11 (Reuters) - Australian stocks slipped on Thursday, knocked by top miner BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP.ax) after strong Chinese production data stoked fears its government would move soon to further curb bank lending, which might cut metals demand.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index JO gave up 5.8 points to close at 4,814.2, according to the latest data, after having touched a high of 4,840.1.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 2.7 points to close at 3,223.4 after the country's central bank left interest rate unchanged at a record low and indicated rates could peak at a lower level than previously thought. (Reporting by Sonali Paul)

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Thu 11th March 2010 - 04:16pm